00 Colophon Premessa -...

Edited by: Sönke Hardersen1, Franco Mason1, Franco Viola2, Dario Campedel3, Cesare Lasen4, Michele Cassol5.1 Centro Nazionale per lo Studio e la Conservazione della Biodiversità Forestale, “Bosco Fontana” di Verona2 Università degli Studi di Padova3 Uffi cio Territoriale per la Biodiversità di Belluno4 Feltre (Belluno)5 Sedico (Belluno)

Scientifi c board: Paolo Audisio (Sapienza Università degli Studi di Roma), Marco Bologna (Università Roma Tre), Alessandro Minelli (Università di Padova), Sandro Ruffo (Museo civico di Storia naturale di Verona), Augusto Vigna Taglianti (Sapienza Università degli Studi di Roma).

General coordination: Franco Mason

Editing and graphic design: Mara Tisato (Centro Nazionale per lo Studio e la Conservazione della Biodiversità Forestale, “Bosco Fontana” di Verona).Maps (Pages: 38, 313, 314, 315, 326, 336) and image editing: Monica Sommacal (Uffi cio Territoriale per la Biodiversità di Belluno).

English translations: Maria Cristina Bruno (Pages: 17-24, 27-33, 35-43, 45-57, 59-68, 79-88, 117-124, 125-128, 129-151, 153-179, 291-296, 309-321, 325-334, 335-348, 349-361, 395-402, 403-414, 437-439, 441-447, 449-459).Revision of english texts: Valerie Matarese (Pages: 69-78, 89-100, 101-116, 181-194, 195-217, 239-251, 253-259, 261-273, 275-290, 297-308, 363-376, 377-394, 415-423, 425-435).

Additional scientifi c editing: Alessia Gibertoni, Chiara Morganti; Gianluca Nardi & Daniel Whitmore (Centro Nazionale per lo Studio e la Conservazione della Biodiversità Forestale, “Bosco Fontana” di Verona).

Cover photo: Torrente Caorame, Vincheto di Celarda Nature Reserve (by Gabriele Zuppati).Back cover photos: from left to right (by Gabriele Zuppati, Monica Sommacal, Gabriele Zuppati, Sönke Hardersen, Salvatore Danieli).Photos: pag. 25 (by Sönke Hardersen); pag. 323 (by Mauro De Bernardo).

Quotation-sample of single contributions:Gatti E., 2008. Analysis of the Cerambycidae (Coleoptera) from Vincheto di Celarda Nature Reserve, pp. 129-151. In: Hardersen S., Mason F., Viola F., Campedel D., Lasen C. & Cassol M. (eds.), Research on the natural heritage of the reserves Vincheto di Celarda and Val Tovanella (Belluno province, Italy). Conservation of two protected areas in the context of a Life Project. Quaderni Conservazione Habitat, 5. Arti Grafi che Fiorini, Verona.

Quotation-sample of the volume:Hardersen S., Mason F., Viola F., Campedel D., Lasen C. & Cassol M. (eds.), 2008. Research on the natural heritage of the reserves Vincheto di Celarda and Val Tovanella (Belluno province, Italy). Conservation of two protected areas in the context of a LIFE Project. Quaderni Conservazione Habitat, 5. Arti Grafi che Fiorini, Verona 461 pp.

© Copyright – Ministero delle Politiche Agricole Alimentari e Forestali, Corpo Forestale dello Stato. Centro Nazionale per lo Studio e la Conservazione della Biodiversità Forestale “Bosco Fontana” di Verona.

ISBN 978-88-87082-98-2

Printed on FSC certifi ed paper.

Publication cofi nanced (50%) by the European Commission and Ministero delle Politiche Agricole Alimentari e Forestali, Corpo Forestale dello Stato in the context of the LIFE Project LIFE04NAT/IT/000190 “Tutela dei siti NATURA 2000 gestiti dal Corpo Forestale dello Stato”.

BELLUNO

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STATE OF KNOWLEDGE

Although Vincheto di Celarda is a natural reserve of international importance (Ramsar convention), its vegetation had never been systematically investi-gated. Applied experimental research was carried out in the area (Talamucci 1987), and single relevès were conducted in Vincheto and adjacent wetlands for a synthesis of the knowledge of a wider geographic area (Buffa et al. 1995; Sburlino et al. 1995). Informa-tion on the territory was given in several papers by

Inspector Francesco Caldart, author of a report on the vegetation of the entire province (Caldart 1966) and a paper on forestry nursery (Caldart 1956). Lasen (1984, 1988) reported situations of environ-mental degradation and vegetation landscape evolu-tion for the portion of Vincheto located along the Piave River. References for forest stand types are: Del Favero & Lasen (1993) and Del Favero (2000), and for grassland types Ziliotto et al. (2004).Phytosociological relevés were carried out in this survey; they allowed, together with past relevés, to

Vegetation outline and Natura 2000 Habitats of Vincheto di Celarda Nature Reserve

Cesare LASEN, Alberto SCARIOT, Tommaso SITZIA

ABSTRACT

In this paper we describe the vegetation of Vincheto di Celarda Nature Reserve based on our map of the Natura 2000 Habitats which was created during the LIFE Project LIFE04NAT/IT/000190. The vegetation types with the highest nature value are the riparian woods (Salicion albae), and the communities on riverside gravel bars (Salicetum eleagni and Saturejon subspicatae - Scorzoneretalia community). We provide a physiognomic description of the vegetation which will be useful for the management of the reserve. The syntaxonomic aspects are described briefl y.

Key words: habitat mapping, riparian woods, riverside gravel bar communities, Vincheto di Celarda Nature Reserve.

RIASSUNTO ESTESO

La Riserva Naturale Vincheto di Celarda non è mai stata oggetto di rilievi sistematici della vegetazione, anche se questa componente è stata ritenuta interessante fi n da quando la riserva era stata inclusa tra le zone Ramsar. Nel corso della campagna di rilevamento degli habitat di inte-resse comunitario, sono stati eseguiti alcuni rilievi e, in particolare, è stato scoperto un lembo di prato arido che ospita due rare orchidee: Orchis coriophora L. e Ophrys fucifl ora (F.W. Schmidt) Moench. Per effetto dei numerosi interventi susseguitisi fi n dal tempo in cui il sito è stato acquisito dal Corpo Forestale dello Stato, le componenti di origine antropogena occupano superfi ci rilevanti, ma nel complesso gli elementi di naturalità sono ancora ben presenti ed esistono le potenzialità per avviare un processo di rinaturalizzazione, specialmente delle comunità forestali.Il rilievo cartografi co ha evidenziato una modesta presenza percentuale di specchi d’acqua con vegetazione di idrofi te ed elofi te, ma tra le fi nalità del Progetto LIFE (LIFE04NAT/IT/000190) vi è anche la loro estensione. I prati falciati, in massima parte espressione di Arrhenatherion, comprese alcune aree più calpestate e/o degradate, si attestano a circa il 25%. Le comunità di greto fl uviale, complessivamente riferibili ai consorzi arbustivi del Salicion eleagni, raggiungono una percentuale di circa il 12%. La componente forestale è ancora prevalente e piuttosto articolata. L’habitat prioritario 91E0-Foreste alluvionali di Alnus glutinosa e Fraxinus excelsior, che si intende ampliare e migliorare qualitativamente (espressioni di Salicion albae e di Alnion incanae s.l.), inclusi gli stadi meno puri, in mosaico, raggiunge anch’esso la signifi cativa aliquota del 10%, alla quale va associata la quota di foresta riparia mista (riferita all’habitat 91F0-Foreste riparie miste lungo i grandi fi umi) di circa 7%. Il bosco misto di latifoglie, meno infl uenzato dal livello della falda e riferibile a Erythronio-Carpinion, incide per quasi il 19%. Le altre presenze forestali si riferiscono a situazioni non cartografabili con i codici di Natura 2000 e comprendono: fi lari, nuclei di conifere da impianto, robinieti e cespuglieti per una superfi cie di poco superiore al 10%. Per effetto della storia e dell’attuale utilizzo di questa riserva anche le aree ricreative o esplicitamente dedicate alle attività istituzionali coprono una percentuale non trascurabile che supera l’11%.Gli aspetti vegetazionali qualitativamente più signifi cativi sono quelli dei tratti con vegetazione acquatica (espressioni di Ranunculion fl uitantis) e xerico-magredile (Centaurenion dichroanthe-Saturejon subspicatae). Tra i popolamenti arbustivi della serie magredile anche Salici incanae-Hip-pophaëtum, localmente evolvente verso Alno incanae-Pinetum sylvestris. La vegetazione forestale include comunità importanti quali Salicetum albae, Carici acutiformis-Alnetum glutinosae, Alnetum incanae s.l. Le comunità di Erythronio-Carpinion, invece, per effetto delle recenti trasforma-zioni e delle variazioni di livello della falda, non sono al momento riferibili con certezza a comunità già note in letteratura.

RESEARCH ON THE NATURAL HERITAGE OF VINCHETO DI CELARDA AND VAL TOVANELLA (BELLUNO PROVINCE, ITALY) – QUADERNI CONSERVAZIONE HABITAT – 5/2008: 35-43.

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classify the vegetation types and syntaxonomic units. However, the number of relevés was insuffi cient to provide a comprehensive phytosociological table.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Vegetation surveys were conducted in 2005-2006 as part of a LIFE Project (LIFE04NAT/IT/000190), and concerned mainly the identifi cation of the Natura 2000 Habitats. Due to the small size of the reserve (133 ha) and the numerous transitional stages of habi-tats encountered, aerial photos were used to delimit the vegetation types previously recorded on the ground. Only in those few cases with high restoration prior-ity, we conducted phytosociological relevès, following the Sigmatist method, using the Pignatti-Mengarda

CESARE LASEN, ALBERTO SCARIOT, TOMMASO SITZIA

abundance-dominance index (Pignatti & Mengarda 1962), omitting the associability index. Sample plots were chosen in agreement with other researchers and in accordance with their monitoring plan.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The surface area of the habitats recorded in the na-ture reserve are listed in tab. 1, and are represented in the vegetation map (fi g. 1). Each of the Natura 2000 Habitats was split into the typical form and into several variants, stages or facies. We also consid-ered some mosaics of habitats. This scheme allowed to create a map, which is useful to defi ne ecological restoration priorities. A synthesis of the main features of each habitat is listed below.

HABITATS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST Surface (ha) % Map code

HUMID AND RIPARIAN HABITATS

3150 - Natural eutrophic lakes with Magnopotamion or Hydrocharition-type vegetation 0.15 0.11 26

3220 - Alpine rivers and the herbaceous vegetation along their banks 0.27 0.20 18

3240 - Alpine rivers and their ligneous vegetation with Salix eleagnos 13.01 9.78

- typical form 1.10 0.83 22

- with exotic species (Buddleja davidii, Amorpha fruticosa, Reynoutria x bohemica) 0.35 0.26 15

- with Pinus sylvestris and Alnus incana 7.15 5.38 33

- evolved facies with Populus nigra 0.13 0.10 30

- recent secondary woodland 3.72 2.80 19

3260 - Water courses of plain to montane levels with the Ranunculion fl uitantis and Callitricho-Batrachion vegetation

0.56 0.42 3

13.43 10.10

GRASSLANDS AND PASTURES

6210 - Semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates (Festuco- Brometalia)

0.7 0.52


- with Festuca rupicola 0.47 0.35 39

6410 - Molinia meadows on calcareous, peaty or clayey-silt-laden soils (Molinion caeruleae) (potential) 0.09 0.07 49

6430 - Hydrophilous tall herb fringe communities of plains and of the montane to alpine levels 0.15 0.11 6

6510 - Lowland hay meadows (Alopecurus pratensis, Sanguisorba offi cinalis) 31.4 23.61

- typical form 25.73 19.35 14

- facies with Ranunculus acris 0.58 0.44 52

- with Erigeron annuus 5.09 3.83 40

32.34 24.32

FORESTS

91E0 - *Alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior (Alno-Padion, Alnion incanae, Salicion albae)

9.06 6.81

- linear formation 3.64 2.74 50

- with prevailing Alnus incana 2.92 2.20 27

Tab. 1. List of habitats mapped. The Habitat types and names (*: Priority Habitat) are simplifi ed and modifi ed from those of the Annex 1 of the Habitats Directive, which are listed and described in the Manual of European Union Habitats (European Commission 2007).

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- with prevailing Salix alba 2.06 1.55 31

- with prevailing Salix alba and exotic species 0.15 0.11 16

- variant with patches of Magnocaricion 0.07 0.05 23

- with exotic species 0.22 0.17 4

91F0 - Riparian mixed forests along the great rivers 9.54 7.17


- with conifers and Robinia pseudacacia 0.64 0.48 10

- with Robinia pseudacacia and Platanus hybrida 4.0 3.01 24

91L0 - Illyrian oak–hornbeam forests (Erythronio-Carpinion) 25.26 18.99

- typical form 21.74 16.35 34

- with Picea abies and exotic species 3.52 2.65 44

43.86 32.98

HABITAT MOSAICS

6210 - Semi-natural dry grasslands (*important orchid sites) and 3240 - Alpine rivers and their ligneous vegetation with Salix eleagnos

0.12 0.09 55

6210 - Semi-natural dry grasslands and 3240 - Alpine rivers and their ligneous vegetation with Salix eleagnos

1.05 0.79 32

91E0 - *Alluvial forests and 3150 - Natural eutrophic lakes 1.89 1.42 11

91E0 - *Alluvial forests and 3240 - Alpine rivers and their ligneous vegetation with Salix eleagnos 6.56 4.93 42

9.62 7.23

TOTAL HABITAT NATURE 2000 99.23 74.61

OTHER NATURAL OR SEMI-NATURAL HABITATS

Totally or partly non-vegetated gravel stream 2.08 1.56 53

Degraded riverine area with prevailing exotic species 0.09 0.07 17

Phragmites australis community 0.40 0.30 2

Degraded Ligustro-Prunetum and Berberido-Rosetum communities 0.73 0.55 35

Secondary hornbeam-manna ash wood 1.02 0.77 38

Mixed black locust wood 0.52 0.39 43

ARTIFICIAL HABITATS

Picea abies plantation 6.95 5.23 21

Picea abies and Thuja sp. plantation 0.48 0.36 46

Populus nigra plantation 0.49 0.37 20

Row of Fraxinus excelsior 0.39 0.29 51

Row of large trees (Ulmus minor ) and conifers (Pinus sylvestris and P. nigra ) 0.26 0.20 5

Row of Picea abies 2.01 1.51 7

Row of Pinus sylvestris 0.17 0.13 47

Row of Populus nigra, Picea abies and Pinus sylvestris 0.18 0.14 13

Row of Ulmus minor 0.59 0.44 29

Recreation area 3.96 2.98 48

Open storage and cleared areas 1.51 1.14 8

Area with grasses and/or trees fenced for ungulates and horses 5.64 4.24 9

PAVED AREAS AND BUILDINGS

Roads and associated land, yards 5.6 4.21 54

Artifi cial non-vegetated canals 0.32 0.24 1

Buildings 0.38 0.28 0

TOTAL NON-NATURE 2000 HABITATS 33.77 25.39

TOTAL RESERVE 133.00 100.00

HABITATS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST Surface (ha) % Map code

VEGETATION OUTLINE AND NATURA 2000 HABITATS OF VINCHETO DI CELARDA NATURE RESERVE

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Fig. 1. Vegetation map with habitats of community interest of Vincheto di Celarda Nature Reserve (surveys conducted in 2005-06). Legend: see map codes in tab. 1. (Ortofoto digitale a colori 1:10 000 - 2003. Compagnia Generale Ripreseaeree Parma).


N

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Habitat 3150 - Natural eutrophic lakes with Magno-potamion or Hydrocharition - type vegetationThe so-called “Laghetto della Colonia” hosts a large population of Myriophyllum spicatum L. whereas pop-ulations of the rare Potamogeton coloratus Hornem are present in mosaic areas with tall sedges.

Habitat 3220 - Alpine rivers and the herbaceous veg-etation along their banksVegetation represented by very unstable associations was located towards the Piave banks, where Cala-magrostis pseudophragmites (Haller f.) Koel., the guide-species of this habitat, is very abundant. Notwithstand-ing the presence of Myricaria germanica (L.) Desv., we did not record communities large enough to allow the designation of habitat 3230 - Alpine rivers and their ligneous vegetation with Myricaria germanica.

Habitat 3240 - Alpine rivers and their ligneous veg-etation with Salix eleagnosDifferent communities are included in this habitat, all characterized by Salix eleagnos Scop. as guide spe-cies. Besides the typical form, we recorded a more evolved vegetation with Pinus sylvestris, on periodi-cally dry soils, which are primitive stages of the Alno incanae-Pinetum sylvestris association. Some small ar-eas, rich in Hippophaë rhamnoides L. subsp. fl uviati-lis Soest, belong to the Salici incanae-Hippophaëtum rhamnoidis association. Several degraded stages are present as well, dominated by naturalized and in-vasive exotic species. One stage is characterized by Amorpha fruticosa L. and Buddleja davidii Franch. The stage with Reynoutria x bohemica Chrtek & Chrtkovà is less common. Several transitional stages and recent secondary woodlands are present as well, the latter being very primitive, with Salix eleagnos Scop. and Salix purpurea L. on gravel substrate (“La-ghetto verde dell’isola”).

Habitat 3260 - Water courses of plain to montane levels with the Ranunculion fl uitantis and Callitricho-Batrachion vegetationSmall areas of Ranunculo-Sietum submersi were pres-ent in the stream Rio Celarda (fi g. 2). Other com-munities belonging to this habitat, characterized by the dominance of Callitriche sp., Veronica anagallis-aquatica L. and Ranunculus trichophyllus Chaix were observed but not mapped due to their small size. In some areas helophytes such as Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud., Typha latifolia L. and Sparga-nium erectum L. subsp. neglectum (Beeby) K. Richt are growing on the stream bed. Because these associa-tions, albeit being very interesting for their diversity

and species composition, do not have a specifi c code, we used the code 3260 in the vegetation map to indi-cate this vegetation type too.

Habitat 6210 - Semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates (Festuco-Brometalia) This habitat is not really a classic dry grassland, mowed and unfertilized, but rather a well-developed community on consolidated river gravels (fi g. 3). The communities are composed by species of Festuco-Brometea (Saturejon subspicatae, Scorzoneretalia) together with those of the Seslerietalia and Erico-Pinetalia. The most common species are: Teucrium montanum L., Carex liparocarpos Gaudin, Chamaecytisus purpureus (Scop.) Link, Hippo-crepis comosa L., Sanguisorba minor Scop. s.l., Gypsophila repens L., Linum tenuifolium L., Helianthemum num-mularium (L.) Mill. subsp. obscurum (Čelak.) Holub, Thesium rostratum Mert. & W.D.J. Koch, Plantago ho-losteum Scop., Cytisus pseudoprocumbens Markgr. and Globularia cordifolia L. It is also possible to attribute the Scorzoneretalia community to the code 62A0.Species typical of the thermophilous fringe com-munities such as Geranion sanguinei (Clematis recta

Fig. 2. Berula erecta and Nasturtium offi cinale in the running wa-ters of the Rio Celarda (photo by A. Scariot).

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L., Peucedanum cervaria (L.) Lepeyr., Peucedanum oreoselinum (L.) Moench, Centaurea scabiosa L.) grow within these grasslands. The presence of the two rare orchids Orchis coriophora L. and Ophrys fucifl ora (F.W.Schmidt) Moenche, together with Orchis tri-dentata Scop. and Gymnadenia conopsea (L.) R. Br. allows to consider one of these sites (located between Prà Grant and the Piave River), a priority habitat, ac-cording to the interpretation manual of Natura 2000 Habitats (European Commission 2007). Some areas of dry grasslands dominated by Bromus erectus Huds. and Festuca rupicola Heuff. were record-ed, where the scarcity of Arrhenatheretalia species is probably due to a low fertilization rate (fi g. 4). In one of these areas there is a relevant population of Orchis tridentata Scop. Mosaics of these dry grasslands and shrubs of Salix eleagnos Scop. were recorded between “Prato dei Cavalli” and the Torrente Caorame.

Habitat 6410 - Molinia meadows on calcareous, peaty or clayey-silt-laden soils (Molinion caeruleae)The humid and dry, regularly mowed meadows (Mo-linion s.l.) have become increasingly rare, and local-ized outside the reserve. Some areas, which could be restored to this habitat typology, are present between the experimental area and the Torrente Caoramello.

Fig. 3. Gravel side-river bars with Artemisia alba and blooming Astragalus onobrychys and Gypsophila repens (photo by C. Lasen).


The guide species are Succisa pratensis Moench and Tetragonolobus maritimus (L.) Roth with the addition of Scirpoides holoschoenus (L.) Soják, a new record for Belluno province, and the rare Dactylorhiza incarnata (L.) Soó, which is classed as vulnerable.

Habitat 6430 - Hydrophilous tall herb fringe commu-nities of plains and of the montane to alpine levels Hydrophilous tall herb communities are present in the area between the riparian woods and the wet meadows, or near ditches. They are in some cases too small to be mapped, but they are important for the biodiversity of the reserve. We recorded among their guide species: Cirsium oleraceum (L.) Scop., Petasites hybridus (L.) P. Gaertn. B. Mey. & Scherb., Valeriana offi cinalis agg., Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim., Epi-lobium hirsutum L. and Scirpus sylvaticus L.

Habitat 6510 - Lowland hay meadowsThe lowland hay meadow is one of the habitat types with the largest extension of the Vincheto di Celar-da Nature Reserve. The community is a typical Ar-rhenatheretum, more specifi cally a Centaureo dubiae-Arrhenatheretum elatioris, in the Eastern geographic variety with Rhinanthus freynii.As a consequence of the diverse and patchy land use,

41

Fig. 4. Portion of dry grassland with Festuca rupicola and Sal-via pratensis. These facies are favored by a low fertilization rate (photo by A. Scariot).


several facies, which are of little syntaxonomic value, are present. Although some areas are used as tem-porary horses pasture, or are grazed by roe deer, Cy-nosurion communites were never recorded. In some wetter areas (probably on clayey soil) we recorded a variant with Ranunculus acris L. Species-poor and de-graded facies with Erigeron annuus (L.) Pers. s.l. cor-respond to the areas most heavily grazed by horses. With a change in land use, these areas could be easily restored to typical communities.

Habitat 91E0 - Alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsiorThis priority habitat is characterized by several veg-etation communities, the Salicetum albae community located along the Rio Celarda (fi g. 5) being the most remarkable. Areas with Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn., old Populus nigra L. trees and, more rarely, of Popu-lus alba L., and abundant Salix triandra L. represent the forests of the highest quality, especially when they are associated with tall sedges and hydrophilous herbs. On the contrary, the presence of nitrogen-loving spe-cies and exotic ones is a sign of habitat degradation. The coenosys related to Alnetum incanae s.l., with undergrowth rich in Rubus caesius L., which probably

originated as a consequence of the 1966 fl ood, have lower nature value. The area with tall sedges (Carex pa-niculata L., Carex acutiformis Ehrh., Carex elata All.) and Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. is one of the most important. A mosaic of riparian woods and aquatic vegetation is present in the wet areas near the outlet of “Laghetto della Palude”. Other habitat mosa-ics with lower nature value are those were the presence of exotic trees (Platanus x hispanica Mill. ex Münchh. “= Platanus hybrida”, Robinia pseudoacacia L.), shrubs (Amorpha fruticosa L., Buddleja davidii Franch.) and herbaceous species (Helianthus tuberosus L., Solidago canadensis L.) are signals of an important disturbance.

Habitat 91F0 - Riparian mixed forests along the great riversCommunities related to the Alno-Ulmion, less hygrophilic than those typical of the code 91E0 (Alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior) were recorded in the riparian forest between the Rio Celarda and the Piave River. Seedlings of Fraxinus excelsior L. are common there, whereas Salix alba L. and Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn. are never predominant. The optimal conditions for this habitat type are never present in large areas, and therefore restoration actions are needed. The typical form was separated during the fi eld surveys from degraded forms with conifers, Robinia pseudacacia L. and/or Platanus x hispanica Mill. ex Münchh.

Fig. 5. Alluvial wood with Alnus glutinosa and Salix alba near Piave River (photo by A. Scariot).

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Habitat 91L0 - Illyrian oak–hornbeam forests (Ery-thronio-Carpinion)The evolution of woods in the Vincheto di Celarda Nature Reserve was affected by several factors and, most importantly by variations in aquifer depth which caused alterations that are diffi cult to inter-pret within the classical phytosociological system. The mixed broad-leaved wood, which today is the prevailing type, belongs to the Erythronio-Carpinion alliance, and therefore was coded as 91L0-Illyrian oak–hornbeam forests (Erythronio-Carpinion). How-ever, these woods are not typical or easily attributable to a single association. The guide species with sub-Il-lyrian gravitation are Anemone trifolia L., Galanthus nivalis L. and Epimedium alpinum L.The trees correspond to more hygrophilous coenosys than those indicated by the herbaceous species. In all cases, different synusiae co-exist such as facies of Carex alba Scop. (a xeric species indicator of soils with alternating humidity) in mosaic with facies of Allium ursinum L. (a sub-hygrophilous species). Trees of Acer pseudoplatanus L., Tilia cordata Mill. and Fraxinus excelsior L. are never as abundant as in a Tilio-Acerion coenosys, also because the presence of Ligustrum vulgare L., Berberis vulgaris L. and Pinus sylvestris L. indicates more xeric environmental conditions. The presence of Quercus robur L. or Ulmus glabra Huds., even if localized and never prevailing, indicates good soil fertility.

Other habitatsThe vegetation of some small areas of the reserve shows the peculiar ecotonal and continuously evolv-ing stages of the perifl uvial successional patterns, which is diffi cult to categorize as syntaxonomically defi ned phytocoenosys. Such dynamic stages are not easy to map unless as a complex mosaic; they are very important habitats for several animal species. The common reed community (Phragmitetum australis) is one of the remaining habitats for which a Natura 2000 Habitat code cannot be applied; it represents an important habitat for birds.Fraxinus ornus L. (one of the most thermophilous species of the reserve) has recently re-colonized dry,

alluvial sections, even though the Vincheto di Ce-larda Nature Reserve is one of the areas of the Piave valley between Belluno and Feltre with the coldest winters. Scrub communities belonging to the Berber-idion alliance (Ligustro-Prunetum and Berberido-Ro-setum) were recorded near the Laghetto dell’Airone; they developed after the natural fall or artifi cial re-moval of trees.Synantropic and ruderal communities in tram-pled areas or adjacent to trails and tracks were not mapped because of their small surface area and low nature value.

CONCLUSIONS

The most important result of the work presented here is the classifi cation and mapping of the habitat types and the assessment of their nature value. Given that the objectives of the LIFE Natura project were very practical, the vegetation surveys were conducted adopting a classical phytosociological method only in part, and instead gave particular attention to the areas subject to restoration and conservation activities. The historical relevés and those conducted by the authors allowed to identify single syntaxa, but these were in-suffi cient to provide a comprehensive syntaxonomi-cal table. Still, the work presented is the fundamental starting point for those conservation and monitoring plans which aim to follow a well defi ned management approach, like those prepared within LIFE Projects, which are based on a comparison between the results of restoration activities and the natural evolution of plant communities.From a botanic point of view the most interesting habitats and those with the highest nature value, are the riparian woodlands (Salicion albae and Alno-Ul-mion), the aquatic habitats (in particular Ranunculion fl uitantis), the wetlands belonging to the Magnocari-cion and Phragmitetalia and fi nally, the xeric riparian gravel communities, especially the herbaceous ones which belong to the Saturejon subspicatae, due to the presence of Illiric elements.

REFERENCES

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Addresses

CESARE LASEN

Via Mutten, 27 • I-32032 Arson di Feltre (BL)

<[email protected]>

ALBERTO SCARIOT

Via Busette di Fianema, 1 • I-32030 Soranzen Cesiomaggiore (BL)

<[email protected]>-

TOMMASO SITZIA

Dipartimento Territorio e Sistemi Agro-forestali, Università degli Studi di Padova

Viale dell’Università, 16 • I-35020 Legnaro (PD)

<[email protected]>

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